The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-01-21
VERY PRIVATE"
The Engagement" Between Aleck
FanshaWe and Louise.

Tt was in the autumn that the news
of the loss of the ship Albatross reached
the small town Of Haven. She had
foundered on her way to Calcutta, and
Aleck Fanshawe was on board as super
cargo.
cit isn't as though Squire Fanshawe
hadn't other sons" commiserated a
neighbor, when the blinds were pulled
down and Grape tied on the knocker at
the big stone mansion, and prayers
were offered in church for the bereaved
family and friends. Every body in
town, so to speak, turned out to church
on that September morning to see how
the family took it, and to be able to
criticise the funeral sermon. The Fan
shawes had been a gay, worldly crowd,
and Lhis was their first sorrow, and
those who had seen them in prosperity
and joy wanted to behold the effect of
the reverse; but they proved to be a
family who did not wear the heart on
the sleeve; they conducted themselves
brayely behind their weeds, and re-
strained their tears till they might flow
in private. The only excitement of the
occasion, however, was worthy of the
expectations of their friends. The fam
lily filed into church, black as grief and
Grape could make them. There was
John and his mother, Sue and Hide
gardei but who was this other on the
old Squire's arm, bowed with emotion,
more sable than them all, in widow
vail and capP Who? Why, it was only
Louise Turner, whom they had always
known. Why was she in Widows weeds
and on the Squire's arm2 What had
happened to her? There was lively
gossip, you may be sure, that day on
the way home from church.
IL remember he qOaS kind of attent-
i've to Louise Turner one spell" re-
Elected Mrs. Ames.
CHATS So" echoed Mrs. Blake.
Don't you remember he took her to q
concert over to Danvers? He has al.
ways known her; and like as not there
a)as something between them.
$50 he has always known every 9th.
er girl in town." said Mrs. Blunt, the
skeptic; "and he has been just as at
tentiye to half dozen others, as far as
] can see.N
Eyes, acknowledged Mrs. Ames, re.
luctantly, che was attentive to all OF
them on and off; but then man NAV
be attentive to a dozen, you know,
while he only cares for one. It's
odd; u woman couldn't do it; it would
bore her horribly-that is, unless she's
flirt.
"Woll, of course it's true" sighed
Mrs. Blunt, cor else she wouldn't be
in widows weeds and in the Squire's
pew; but she's the last girl l thought
Aleok would care for. | can't reconcile
myself to it"
The interest and surprise of this
event seemed to subtract something
from the solemnity of the occasion. Il
was not so wonderful that Aleck Fan.
Shave should die as that he should
have been engaged to Louise Turner
and nc one ever have guessed it. II
perpleNed and disturbed Mrs. Blunt
she could hardly tell why. Perhaps
she was disappointed that Aleck should
have cared for such shallow Girl as
Louisei and then a surprise has an irri-
tating effect upon some natures. She
upbraid herself for having so little sym
pathy for Louise in such tremendous
sorrow. Louise was pretty; every body
said Louise was pretty, and young men
are easily pleased. Doubtless it had
occurred at the last moment before his
departure, and Louise had waited for
his re urn to declare it. Aleck had
been the best match in town, and, love
aside, this was great blow for Louise,
with whom every body was bound to
sympathize. But Mrs. Blunt was dis
satisfied with the quality as well as
quantity of her own sympathy.
ut seems" said u neighbour who
happened in to talk it over-''it seems
that Louise heard the rumor and
rushed up to Squire Fanshawes to
know the truth, and when it was yeri-
fed she went straight into Mysteries
and confessed that they had been pri-
vately engaged. OF course the Squire
adopted her into the family at once.
They bought her mourning, the very
best, and l dare say they'll give her
Alexis property-you know he had a
fortune from his own mother, the
Squire's first wife. F."
"Have you heard that John refused
to believe it at first Pr asked Mrs,
Blunt.
Eyes he ,oas a little stiff at first; he
never liked Louise, you know"
lit seems to me | shouldn't want to
take it on trust as they've done.
should want to see letters in his own
hand, or something confrmatory, not
Just her word for it. !"
''Seems to me it would be a tremen-
deus cruelty to turn deaf ear to her at
such time and refuse to believe her
story"
Yes" agreed Mrs. Blunt. "'Better
be cheated to the last than lose the
blessed hope of truth, as some poet
says"
1t was few days after these aston
ishing events that Miss Betty LIE Breton
returned from vacation at the mount
aims, without having heard of the dis
aster that had oyertaken the Fan
shawos.